23/01/23

Jones Day announces new leaders of its Corporate Practice around the world

The global law firm Jones Day today announced that Andy Levine, Randi Lesnick, and Vica Irani will lead the Firm’s newly structured Corporate Practice. As practice leaders, they will coordinate and oversee the Firm’s transactional work worldwide, including both the Firm’s M&A and Private Equity sub-practices. These appointments, which are part of the implementation of a strategic, long-term planning process, set the stage for future growth of a transactional practice that has a two-decade record of acting on more deals than any other law firm. 

“Andy, Randi, and Vica are leading practitioners in their field who not only have extensive experience but also decades of practice ahead of them,” said Greg Shumaker, Managing Partner of Jones Day. “With their appointments, we have leadership situated in the two most important financial capitals of the world that will continue to expand Jones Day’s status as one of the premier transactional firms globally.”   

Based in New York, Mr. Levine has led Jones Day’s Private Equity Practice since 2017. His practice consists of leading global transactions for both sponsors and strategic participants, including many of the most recognizable consumer brands and financial institutions. His recent multi-billion dollar transactions reflect a mix of sectors from telecommunications to major health care groups. Mr. Levine was named a BTI Client Service All-Star in 2022, was twice named a Private Equity MVP by Law360, and has been recognized by Legal 500 US for both M&A Large Deals and Private Equity. 

Also based in New York, Ms. Lesnick previously served as the Firm’s M&A Chair for the Americas.  She has more than 25 years of experience advising on M&A transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $300 billion. Her practice focuses on M&A transactions including spin-offs, carveouts, takeover preparedness, activist defense situations and restructurings. Ms. Lesnick regularly counsels public company boards on corporate governance matters, including ESG and sustainability issues. She has been named a "Dealmaker of the Year" by The American Lawyer, is repeatedly recognized as a Client Service All-Star, MVP, and Super All-Star by BTI Consulting, and is consistently ranked in Chambers USA and Legal 500 US for M&A.

Based in the Firm’s London Office, Ms. Irani has held numerous leadership positions within Jones Day, including EMEA Chair for the M&A Practice, and co-chair of the Firm’s Global Women’s Affinity Group.  Her M&A experience covers multiple industries, including infrastructure, industrials, natural resources, defense & aerospace, and life sciences. Ms. Irani has advised a major Australian financial services group on numerous M&A transactions worth almost $15 billion, a $49 billion multinational merger, and several multi-billion dollar acquisitions. For more than 15 years, she consistently ranks as a leading lawyer in Chambers and Legal 500 legal directories.   

Jones Day also announced leadership additions to its M&A and Private Equity sub-practices: 

M&A

David Grubman, a partner based in Jones Day’s Pittsburgh office with nearly 25 years of experience in complex M&A and corporate governance matters, will succeed Ms. Lesnick as M&A Chair for the Americas.  Mr. Grubman is highly ranked in  Chambers USA, and was recognized in the Legal Intelligencer’s 2021 "Most Effective Dealmakers" list.    

Private Equity

Lisa Lathrop, a partner in the Chicago Office and a leading lawyer for two decades who focuses her practice on high-profile private equity funds during their full life cycles, has been named to the Private Equity leadership team with responsibility for the U.S. market. She joins the existing members of the leadership team: Renaud Bonnet (Paris), Michael Earley (Chicago), and Patrick Stafford (London)

dotted_texture